Top Android App: Screebl Lite

If you’re looking for a great way to save battery life with your Android phone, Screebl is your answer. Screebl uses the orientation and activity of your Android phone to determine if it’s in use. If not, the screen will timeout and save your battery. A great app idea and executed to perfection.

As stated by the developer, “Screebl is an app that controls power saving features of your phone based on orientation.” Now you can avoid your screen from timing-out when you’re using your phone. Similarly, you can save battery by having your screen time-out when you’re not using it.

The customization that comes with this app is quite extensive; and not in an overwhelming way but in a “I want this app to work exactly as I say” kind of way. You can configure the orientation (for both portrait and landscape mode) in which Screebl will check to see whether your phone is in use. I’ve been using the standard settings, where the app only considers no movement in the 0-5 degree range (laying flat) as being not in use. This way if I have my phone prop’d up or am holding it still to watch a movie, the screen won’t time out. You can change these orientation settings to fit your preferences.

Furthermore, you can edit Screebl’s in-call behavior, sampling frequency, and a lot more.

A feature I have come to value is the icon of a small smartphone that is placed in your notification window. When the screen is green, that tells you Screebl considers your phone in use. When it’s clear, Screebl considers your phone not in use and the screen will then time-out shortly.

After using this app, I can say that I have noticed an improvement in my battery life. I oftentimes forget that my phone is sitting on my desk with the screen unlocked (and since I don’t like short screen time-outs, mine is set to 10 minutes), so my battery can drop quickly. Screebl is perfect if you’re forgetful like me.

The one grief I have with this app is that if Screebl considers your phone inactive and the screen is about to time-out it will dim, however, if you then pick up or move the phone around, it doesn’t come back to full brightness even though it now considers the phone active. Instead, you have to move the trackball or perform an action to bring the screen back to full brightness. I’m not sure if this is a fixable aspect or something built into Android, but in any case it’s just a small annoyance.

Take a look at this overview of the functions and design behind Screebl by the developer himself.

Overall, you need to try Screebl, you won’t be disappointed by this app. Thank you to @Bprior22 for pointing this app out to us! Here’s the QR code (you can also click it if you’re reading on your Android phone):